Happy cold Saint Valentine’s Day! My hope and prayer for this Valentine’s Day is to get the third degree. Normally, “getting the third degree” is an idiom meaning “to be interrogated, scrutinized, or questioned intensely or thoroughly by someone.” I don’t want that. But I do want our temperature to at least crack 3 degrees today. And people wonder why I don’t like February.
There is something to get fired up about each day this week! This Sunday, February 14, is World Marriage Day. On Monday, February 15, you might want to start your Consecration to St. Joseph if you are doing that. That way the 33-day Consecration ends on March 19, the Solemnity of St. Joseph. Deacon Justin is leading a group reflection and prayer Monday (the 15th) at 7PM in the church and live-streamed. On Tuesday, February 16, is unofficially “Fat Tuesday” so eat a cupcake, or come to the third session of my Bible study at 7PM, or do both. Wednesday, February 17, is Ash Wednesday, and Lent begins. Again, I want to prepare you that the imposition of ashes is a bit different this year. The instruction from Rome is that the priest says the words, “Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return,” only once for everyone, and then individuals come forward for ashes that will be sprinkled on top of your head. Yes, that is a bit different than what we are used to, but it is a more traditional/Biblical way of doing it. Please try to not complain about it—not the best way to start Lent by complaining.
By the way…some thoughts on practices of “giving up” things for Lent. Complaining is a good thing to give up, but really hard to pull off. I had the idea which I’m pondering of giving up multi-tasking. That sounds odd, but I’ve noticed that when I Zoom or drive or run on the treadmill (because it is 3 degrees out in February), I often feel the need to do another thing at the same time to maximize my productivity or entertain myself while bored. What if I focused on just doing one thing? It seems difficult but possibly a holy thing to do. Another idea for those who do not like masks, is to be faithful at keeping your mask on. I’m hearing people getting frustrated on both sides about masks—tired of wearing them or tired of others cheating on wearing them near others. What if as simply an act of charity and solidarity we all just bore our masks by keeping them over our mouths AND noses when we are in church? Jesus bore the cross, certainly we can bear a mask through Lent. Another idea is to give up “February”. Did I say I don’t like February? Why can’t we just give it up? Whoops, that was awfully close to complaining…
Another idea is take a Saturday to go on a retreat for Lent. We have one for women and one for men. The Ladies of Peace are hosting “Meetings with Mary” on Saturday, February 27. And for men, “F.I.R.E. in the Pews” sponsored by F.I.R.E Ministries on Saturday, March 6. See the promotions elsewhere in this bulletin to sign up.
Another idea is to pray more, and we have a great opportunity. On Thursday, February 18, at 6:30PM here at POP, we will have a Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction with our twinned parishes. I don’t think I’ve mentioned this before as it just happened recently. All parishes in the Archdiocese were asked to “twin” with another parish which is described as an “intentional partnership with at least one other parish to engage in projects of mercy and support in order to better encounter Christ in one another.” Well, it nicely fell into place through ideas and discernment in our Pastoral Council, so we will be twinning with Christ the King and Blessed Sacrament parishes in Kansas City, Kansas. More to come on twinning (or you can read more at www.twinningkc.org).
Another way to pray, and a little Lenten gift for you, Word on Fire Ministries (think Bishop Barron) has a Lenten series that is sent out electronically, so we will be offering that to you for prayer and reflection at home for Lent. Be on the lookout for that!
And finally, Fridays are special in Lent with Stations of the Cross and Fish Frys. See, there is something for every day this week, so let’s heat up February (beyond the third degree) and get on fire for the faith!